# US 10,502,258 B2 · Tilting pad bearing assemblies; bearing apparatuses and methods of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,258 B2 - Document ID: US10502258B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/376,606 - Filed: 2019-04-05 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-25 - Assignees: US Synthetic Corporation - Applicants: US Synthetic Corporation - Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502258B2 ## CPC - F16C 17/06: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(with flexible leaves F16C17/042; hydrostatic F16C32/0666)} - F16C 17/03: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(hydrostatic bearings with tiltably supported bearing pads F16C32/0666; made from a plurality of rods F16C33/26; with flexible leaves F16C17/024; hydrodynamic bearings with chambers F16C33/1075)} - F16C 33/043: {Sliding surface consisting mainly of ceramics, cermets or hard carbon, e.g. diamond like carbon [DLC]} - F16C 33/24: with different areas of the sliding surface consisting of different materials - F16C 2202/04: Hardness - F16C 2206/04: Diamond like carbon [DLC] - F16C 2206/56: based on ceramic carbides, e.g. silicon carbide (SiC) - F16C 2206/58: based on ceramic nitrides - F16C 2352/00: Apparatus for drilling - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to tilting pad bearing assemblies and bearing apparatuses using the same. As will be discussed in more detail below, the tilting pad bearing assemblies include a plurality of tilting pads. The tilting pads include at least one or more first tilting pads and one or more second tilting pads. Each of the first tilting pads includes a first superhard bearing surface having a first material. Each of the second tilting pads includes a second bearing surface having a second material. The first material includes a superhard material and the second material includes a material that is different than the first material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bearing apparatus, comprising: a first bearing assembly including: a first support ring; and a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring, wherein the plurality of tilting pads includes: one or more of first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface including a first material comprising a superhard material; and one or more of second tilting pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and a second bearing assembly including: a second support ring; and one or more bearing elements extending about the axis, each of the one or more bearing elements including a bearing surface, each of the one or more bearing elements secured to the second support ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more first tilting pads or the one or more second tilting pads includes a polycrystalline diamond table bonded to a cemented carbide substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first material includes at least one of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, a reaction bonded ceramic, a carbide, or boron nitride. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second material includes a superhard material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second material includes a non-superhard material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bearing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the non-superhard material includes at least one of a ceramic, a polymer, a composite, high carbon steel, low carbon steel, poly(aryl ether ketone), bronze, or white metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more bearing elements includes a plurality of sliding bearing elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more bearing elements includes an at least substantially continuous bearing element defining an at least substantially continuous bearing surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second support ring defines an annular slot and the at least substantially continuous bearing element is secured at least partially within the annular slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing element is a continuous bearing element formed from a single element and the at least substantially continuous bearing surface is a continuous bearing surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing element is formed from a plurality of bearing elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing surface includes one or more superhard materials. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing surface includes one or more non-superhard materials. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing surface is harder than the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing surface is harder than one of the first bearing surface or the second bearing surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The bearing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least substantially continuous bearing surface is softer than the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bearing apparatus includes a thrust-bearing apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bearing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bearing apparatus includes a radial bearing apparatus. ### Claim 19 A bearing apparatus, comprising: a first bearing assembly including: a first support ring; and a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring wherein the plurality of tilting pads include: one or more of first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface including a first material comprising a superhard material; and one or more of second tilting pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and a second bearing assembly including: a second support ring; and an at least substantially continuous bearing element extending about the axis, the at least substantially continuous bearing element includes an at least substantially continuous bearing surface, the at least substantially continuous bearing element secured to the second support ring. ### Claim 20 A bearing apparatus, comprising: a stator assembly including: a first support ring; and a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring wherein the plurality of tilting pads include: one or more of first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface including a first material comprising a superhard material; and one or more of second tilting pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and a rotor assembly including: a second support ring; and one or more superhard bearing elements extending about the axis, each of the one or more superhard bearing elements including a superhard bearing surface, each of the one or more superhard bearing elements secured to the second support ring; wherein at least one of the one or more first tilting pads, one or more second tilting pads, or the one or more superhard bearing elements include polycrystalline diamond, the polycrystalline diamond including a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions.